New Delhi: The US military Tuesday announced that they had, in a night-time operation last week, seized a dhow near the coast of Somalia carrying “Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components” meant for Houthis to target merchant ships.
The US Central Command also reported that two of its Navy Seal commandos involved in the operation are missing.
The dhow was deemed unsafe and sunk by US Navy forces after detaining the 14 crew members on board.
According to a statement issued by the command, on 11 January, while conducting a flag verification, its navy forces carried out a night-time “seizure of a dhow conducting illegal transport of advanced lethal aid from Iran to resupply Houthi forces in Yemen as part of the Houthis’ ongoing campaign of attacks against international merchant shipping”.
“US Navy SEALs operating from USS LEWIS B PULLER (ESB 3), supported by helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), executed a complex boarding of the dhow near the coast of Somalia in international waters of the Arabian Sea, seizing Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components,” it said.
The seized items, it added, include “propulsion, guidance, and warheads for Houthi medium range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), as well as air defense associated components”.
“Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea,” the command said.
The Houthis, who are supported by Iran, have been targeting merchant vessels operating in the Red Sea, and even in the Arabian Sea. These include two ships bound for India.
As reported by ThePrint earlier, an analysis of the debris of the loitering munition used to attack one of the ships indicates the use of an Iranian system.
The attack by the Houthis figured in talks held by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his two-day visit to Iran on 14-15 January.
‘Iran actively sows instability throughout region’
The US Central Command said the 11 January seizure is the first involving “Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons (ACW) to the Houthis since the beginning of Houthi attacks against merchant ships in November 2023”.
“The interdiction also constitutes the first seizure of advanced Iranian-manufactured ballistic missile and cruise missile components by the US Navy since November 2019. The direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of weapons to the Houthis in Yemen violates UN Security Resolution 2216 and international law,” it said.
It added that two US Navy SEALs previously reported as lost at sea were directly involved in this operation. “We are conducting an exhaustive search for our missing teammates,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, US Centcom Commander.
“It is clear that Iran continues shipment of advanced lethal aid to the Houthis. This is yet another example of how Iran actively sows instability throughout the region in direct violation of UN Security Resolution 2216 and international law,” he added.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
Also Read: Indian Navy rescues hijacked merchant vessel in Arabian Sea, all crew safe